Application of Solidot IO-Link Bus I/O in Automotive Panel Welding Line Fixture Equipment

The automotive sheet metal welding line is a critical part of automobile manufacturing. Through the coordinated operation of multiple welding fixtures, it completes the positioning, clamping and welding of body sheet metal parts, ensuring the accuracy and strength of the body structure.

Solidot products used in this case study

IOL7-PN01B-8A

(IO-Link Master, PROFINET, 8-channel class-A interface, IP67)

IOL7-16CB-M12

(IO-Link Hub, 16-channel configurable input/output, PNP, IP67)

IOL7-1600B-M12

(IO-Link Hub, 16-channel digital input, PNP, IP67)

IOL7-0016B-M12

(IO-Link Hub, 16-channel digital output, PNP, IP67)

1. Production process overview

The automotive sheet metal welding line uses an advanced welding process. The specific flow is: workpiece loading → positioning and clamping → welding execution → status monitoring → workpiece transfer

[Workpiece loading]

An industrial robot places the sheet metal part onto the welding fixture, ensuring accurate workpiece positioning.

[Positioning and clamping]

The fixture drives the locating pins and clamping arms via cylinders to precisely secure the workpiece and prevent displacement during welding.

[Welding execution]

The welding robot performs multi-point welding to ensure the weld strength and quality meet process requirements.

[status monitoring]

The fixture status is monitored in real time, including cylinder position and welding completion signals, to ensure coordinated operation of all fixtures and robots.

[Workpiece Transfer]

After welding is complete, the fixture is automatically released, and the workpiece moves to the next station to continue the subsequent machining process.

II. I/O module Application mode

In this case, the welding line uses the PROFINET bus protocol, with a Siemens S7-1200 PLC as the main controller. Multiple Solidot IO-Link bus I/O master modules IOL7-PN01B-8A are connected via the bus network, and each master module is in turn connected to 6 slave modules (including IOL7-16CB-M12, IOL7-1600B-M12, IOL7-0016B-M12). One welding fixture corresponds to one master and its slave group, and one robot workstation is equipped with 4 fixture units in total.

The master module IOL7-PN01B-8A implements data exchange between the PLC and the slaves, and supports remote parameter configuration and real-time status diagnostics. The slave modules IOL7-16CB-M12, IOL7-1600B-M12 and IOL7-0016B-M12 are all used to connect proximity switches and cylinder solenoid valves, implementing signal acquisition and actuation control: the input modules acquire fixture status signals, and the output modules drive cylinder actions, ensuring that the welding process is synchronized and precise.

III. Solution Optimization results

After adopting the Solidot IO-Link bus I/O solution, the system maintains high performance while effectively optimizing the wiring structure and operation and maintenance mode. The master and slaves are connected via standard cables. The remote parameter configuration and real-time diagnostic functions improve commissioning and maintenance efficiency, while the system's interference immunity and stability are ensured.

IV. Solidot IO-Link bus I/O

Solidot's IO-Link bus I/O modules can be adapted to bus protocols such as EtherCAT and PROFINET. They feature plug-in connection, diagnostic options, IP67 protection rating, impact resistance and vibration resistance. Solidot IO-Link bus I/O is widely used in industrial scenarios such as automotive manufacturing and logistics, enabling fast device connection, efficient data transmission and intelligent system management to improve production efficiency.